Sports Beat: Thank Fred for setting the pace

Published: Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:51 PM.

Sports media gets so caught up with Tiger Woods as April nears, it’s as if we purposely bury the story that almost annually catapults us into the weekend at the Masters.

The first two rounds at Augusta National are a space filler until the tournament actually begins on the weekend. Stories are filed about Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, whether they’re in the vicinity or not.

Anything done or said by Phil, Tiger of Rory makes its way into print somewhere, while Fred Couples strolls the fairways at Augusta National on Thursday and Friday like he’s on a nature hike.

He flashes the smile that has endeared him to generations who have watched his nonchalant grace the past four decades, then unravels a swing that looks as though it was conceived in a rocking chair.

Couples also makes a bunch of birdies, stays on the first page of players under par, often through most of Saturday, and helps us get past whatever teenaged phenom is bearing up well under pressure that he doesn’t even fathom or what tweets are emanating from Lindsey Vonn.

We should have learned by now that even at age 53 Fred Couples was going to get more than his share of exposure during the first two days of television golf’s signature event. If color TV was made for the Masters, or vise versa, then certainly Couples is prime time’s answer to filling the tedium of 36 holes that mostly are survived by those in quest of a coveted green jacket.

In that sense, he is like the rabbit who sets a torrid pace in a 1,600-meter race in an attempt to spark runners to a world record, then drops out on the final lap.

Sports media gets so caught up with Tiger Woods as April nears, it’s as if we purposely bury the story that almost annually catapults us into the weekend at the Masters.

The first two rounds at Augusta National are a space filler until the tournament actually begins on the weekend. Stories are filed about Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, whether they’re in the vicinity or not.

Anything done or said by Phil, Tiger of Rory makes its way into print somewhere, while Fred Couples strolls the fairways at Augusta National on Thursday and Friday like he’s on a nature hike.

He flashes the smile that has endeared him to generations who have watched his nonchalant grace the past four decades, then unravels a swing that looks as though it was conceived in a rocking chair.

Couples also makes a bunch of birdies, stays on the first page of players under par, often through most of Saturday, and helps us get past whatever teenaged phenom is bearing up well under pressure that he doesn’t even fathom or what tweets are emanating from Lindsey Vonn.

We should have learned by now that even at age 53 Fred Couples was going to get more than his share of exposure during the first two days of television golf’s signature event. If color TV was made for the Masters, or vise versa, then certainly Couples is prime time’s answer to filling the tedium of 36 holes that mostly are survived by those in quest of a coveted green jacket.

In that sense, he is like the rabbit who sets a torrid pace in a 1,600-meter race in an attempt to spark runners to a world record, then drops out on the final lap.

Or the Atlanta Falcons and Georgetown Hoyas, who get their fans in a lather during the regular season only to confront a dismal reality in the playoffs.

But this much for why we shouldn’t be surprised at Couples’ prowess at Augusta:

— Fred Couples and Gary Player share the record with 23 consecutive made cuts at the Masters. Player’s streak ended in 1982, and Couples’ spanned 1983-2008, as he didn’t play in 1987 or 1994. Couples is regarded as the only player never to miss a cut at Augusta in the 20th Century.

— Fred Couples shares with Ben Hogan the single-round record of 66 for a “Senior” player age 50 or over.

--- Fred Couples won his only major title at Augusta in 1992, yet even that accomplishment is remembered more for a fluke occurrence at the unpredictable par-3 12th hole.

Couples called it the most nervous he’s ever been, and the end result the biggest break of his life when his 8-iron came up short of the green, and his ball hit the bank that slopes toward Rae’s Creek and began it’s slow roll toward the water and a probable double bogey.

Somehow gravity and history conspired; the ball hung up in the thicker grass and stayed dry. Couples chipped within a foot, made par and went on two a two-stroke triumph over Raymond Floyd.

He hasn’t won another green jacket at Augusta National, but has continued to charm the hearts and sentiments of galleries there as well as in millions of living rooms.

Since turning 50, Fred Couples’ record at the Masters is sixth in 2010, 15th in 2011 and 12th 2012.

Sometime today, he’ll most likely extend that continued level of excellence.